Florida Day 1, Tampa

Wow we had an easy flight, only slightly delayed to allow for a catch up flight from the prior day (I assume delayed for the snow we received).

Little C was unfazed by flying, she seemed to enjoy the small part she was awake for, she slept for most of the flight. She was excited to be eating in the air, travel must increase her appetite.

We arrived in Tampa safely and with all of our luggage (YEAH!!!), got the car seat installed, and on the road - were we quickly got ourselves lost. We got directions and advice and easily arrived at Bev & Joe's house.

Warm greetings ensued and we settled in, my cousin Ellie was there as well, it was so nice to see her, it had been about 3 years since we had last been together. A tasty lunch was followed by wonderful walk around the neighborhood.

Before dinner Bev and Joe, brought us out to a local beach to watch the sunset, it was beautiful. Beyond words really. We were near the Tampa Airport, so we were also able to watch the planes going in for a landing - this was also when little C first asked where the snow was.

Holiday 1, Connecticut

Saturday we drove down to CT, to celebrate Christmas with Grammy, Grampy, and Nana.

We planned to drive down early Saturday morning, but had a bit of a late start, and then a long drive. we have about a foot of snow when we woke up, Big C had to shovel before we could pack up the truck,and it snowed for most of the drive, however big C is a great driver. So no problems on the drive down.

We had a lovely visit, it was so great seeing everyone. We held our Christmas celebration Saturday afternoon, little C made out like a bandit - She got her first set of ski's and teaching devices, she seems to understand what they are for and managed to walk across the carpet with the skis.

While there was plenty of snow, we did not try the skis outside that weekend - we hadn't packed little C's snow gear because we didn't think there would be time to go out.

We had a wonderful weekend full of family, great food and fun.

Early Monday morning big C's parents saw us off on our way to FL.

Long over due post(s)

Well it's been a busy few months and posts are on their way. Very long over due posts.

We all went to Florida, over Christmas, to visit with family and relax.

Vacation and holiday posts will follow (all post dated, one for each day of of vacation and then one for each holiday celebration)

Little Cell Phone Addict

Little C has been fascinated by our cell phone for some time now, she wants to do what mom and dad are doing. Although she still won't talk much on the phone.

The big surprise was this evening she managed to call Big C with my cellphone, in less than 2 minutes.

I know it's been some time since our last post. We've been busy as a family. We spent Thanksgiving in New Hampshire at Camp Cornish, with gramma and grampa A, Autie M, Uncle J and Cousin J. The kids are so much fun to watch together. Gramma and Grampa watch both children on the Friday following. Big C and I were able to get out skiing for our first day this season, we had a blast.

Dec. 1 Big C and I got a date night, daycare stayed open late and watch some of the children, it was a great opportunity to get some adult conversation and a nice dinner together.

We helped celebrate cousin J's 2nd birthday and little C had cake (she was ecstatic, the sugar crash was less fun for us) Little C had great fun riding in circles around Auntie and Uncle's house - They have a great floor plan for this.

Little C keeps adding word to her vocabulary, octopus, alligator. This last weekend she pointed out a river to us (water). She loves story time, every night after bath time big C reads to her before bed.

We're looking forward to all our holiday celebrations that are on the way, and the family we will see.

Love to all
Urs

Time Gain

I feel like we have gained about an hour a day, at least on the weekends. Little C has begun helping clear the table after meals. She thinks it's a very fun game. We hand her something and ask her to take it to the sink, garbage, recycling or even the bathroom. And off she goes putting everything in the right place. Then she comes running back for more. This allows big C and I to sit around and talk and visit a little after each meal. This weekend we've even been working on a crossword together. She only put things in the wrong place once, after lunch today our plates, and forks got thrown away, but other than that she is spot on. She has even corrected me, I've asked her to put a few thinks that are recyclable into the garbage and she looks at me funny and put them in the recycling.

Little C has always liked to help, yesterday she went out to "help" big C shovel. Actually she doesn't have a shovel yet, but she did enjoy the snow.

We've set up a tent in the living room for little C, and she's turning it into a nice cozy nest for her self. She even plays by herself in there for a while now.

Our Little Helper

Helping Daddy cook breakfast

Cheese and crackers little C assembled for us, note the decorations. She must of been very hungry because she "claimed" the snacks early on and ate them.

Little C made me these, no bite marks this time :)

Helping fix the washer, she's a natural. Little C came running and jumped right in to help. She must have an ingrained sense for these things. Here she is holding the flashlight just where it was needed.

Now it's Daddy's turn, and little C was there to help too. She is so curious about how things work.

Purple and Potties

Yesterday little C said purple, she has also tried to say elbow and keeps trying to say elephant. It's really fun to watch what she will choose to try to say. She's been playing "please" for about a week, out loud now on top of signing it. It comes out more like "mease" But she is so darn cute doing it.

We've managed to go a whole day dry, little C used the potty all day, even going on her own without coaching. She can take her training pants off by herself and put the back on, not that she wants too. The day after her all dry day we were mostly dry, we had two wet trainers, one because she sat on the potty with the trainers still on, and the second time she wet while playing but she told me about it.

When ever she does go on the potty she picks it up and carries it to the toilet and dumps it in, she's only spilled once and that's because she tripped.

Dry days are still easier if we are bare bottom, which is harder since little C is in daycare during the week, but we do pretty good in the mornings and on weekends at home.